Compulsive Buying Tendencies among Students at Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry: A Qur’anic Ethical Perspective

Abstract

The expansion of digital commerce has made shopping increasingly accessible to university students and may facilitate repeated purchases that are not based on immediate needs. This study examines students’ understanding of compulsive buying tendencies, identifies the purchasing patterns, contributing contexts, and consequences reported in their accounts, and interprets those tendencies from a Qur’anic ethical perspective. This descriptive qualitative study involved nine purposively selected students at Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. Relevant Qur’anic passages and scholarly literature were subsequently examined as a normative framework for interpreting the reported consumption practices. The participants generally understood compulsive buying as excessive or recurrent purchasing driven more by desire than necessity, although this understanding did not consistently result in effective self-restraint. Reported purchases included clothing, skincare products, accessories, food, and game top-ups. Promotions, discounts, viral content, social media exposure, peer expectations, lifestyle pressures, stress, boredom, and the convenience of online shopping were reported as contexts associated with these purchasing tendencies. The consequences included reduced funds for basic and academic needs, borrowing, and post-purchase regret, although one participant did not report regret. Qur’anic concepts such as isrāf (excess), tabdhīr (wasteful expenditure), wasatiyyah (moderation), and qanāʿah (contentment) provide a normative framework for evaluating these practices and encouraging responsible consumption. Because the study did not use a validated diagnostic instrument, its findings indicate self-reported tendencies rather than a clinical diagnosis or prevalence estimate.